“- Tony Lip: I dunno. Personally I think if you stuck to the classic stuff it would've been a big mistake.- Dr. Donald Shirley: A mistake? Performing the music I trained my entire life to play?- Tony Lip: Trained? What are you, a seal? People love what you do! Anyone can sound like Beethoven or Joe Pan or them other guys you said. But your...” (continue)(continue reading)Viggo Mortensen - Tony Lip
Mahershala Ali - Dr. Donald Shirley

“I live in a castle, Tony! Alone. And rich white people pay me to play piano for them because it makes them feel cultured. But as soon as I step off that stage, I go right back to being just another nigger to them. Because that is their true culture. And I suffer that slight alone, because I'm not accepted by my own people 'cause I'm not like...” (continue)(continue reading)Mahershala Ali - Dr. Donald Shirley

“- Little: What's a faggot?- Juan: A faggot is... a word used to make gay people feel bad.- Little: Am I a faggot?- Juan: No. You're not a faggot. You can be gay, but you don't have to let nobody call you a faggot.”Alex R. Hibbert - Little
Mahershala Ali - Juan

“- Tony Lip: I don't make the rules down here.- Dr. Donald Shirley: No? Then who does?- Tony Lip: You're saying just 'cause I'm white and they're white? You know, that's a very prejudiced thing you just said there. A very prejudiced thing. I got more in common with the Hymies at 2nd Avenue Deli than I do with these hillbilly pricks down here.”Viggo Mortensen - Tony Lip
Mahershala Ali - Dr. Donald Shirley